HABITAT HOUSE

The United Methodist Churches in our county are building a Habitat for Humanity House. They only work on the houses on Saturdays, so Handyman Husband has spent several Saturdays working at the house. They've had a slight problem of having more volunteers than work for them to do. That's a wonderful problem to have. There has been a lot of interest in the project. They have 2 crews per Saturday - one works 8-12 and the other 1-5. Volunteers bring lunch at 12:00 to feed both the morning and afternoon crews. That's the part I've been helping with. So far, there has been a lot of "ladder" work and I don't do ladders. I'm hoping to be able to help out when they get to painting or landscaping. The house is for a single lady who has 4 daughters. She's been working at the site each Saturday. It's going to be a real cute house when it's finished. It's got 3 bedrooms, living room, kitchen, 1 full bath, and a 1/2 bath/laundry room combination. So far the weather has been cooperating and they're 3 weeks ahead of schedule. The outside of the house is finished so now the weather won't affect the work. The girls are all excited about getting their new house.

MORE GREEN BEANS

Last week I posted that I had canned green beans. That was early in the week. On Friday Handyman Husband and I went and picked beans again. On Saturday I processed 4 canners of beans - 7 quarts and 30 pints. In 6 days I had canned 91 jars of beans! Today he went and picked beans again. Tonight we've been stringing and breaking beans - 4 gallons worth. I'll be canning tomorrow night. I can do 1 canner of quarts, 1 canner of pints and still have some to cook for eating fresh. I went to WalMart on Saturday and bought more pint jars. It's a good thing I got them because I'll be using some tomorrow. I counted the beans in the pantry and right now we have 254 jars of beans. It's a good thing our family likes green beans.

GOLDEN WEDDING ANNIVERSARY

On Friday we had the opportunity to attend the 50th Wedding Anniversary celebration of some friends from church. What an accomplishment to have spent 50 years with that one special person. They each told stories of their lives, but I found one in particular rather amusing. They met each other at college back in the 50’s. He asked her to go for a ride in his car with him. She said no that she couldn’t do that, but if he had an airplane, she would take a ride with him. He was a struggling student, going to school on the GI Bill, but he went out to the regional airport and rented a plane and a pilot to take her for a plane ride. She said that he had used most of his allotment for the month to take her on that ride and probably didn’t eat very well for the rest of the month. He knew what he wanted and he went after it, forsaking all else. They’ve had a wonderful life together with 3 children and several grandchildren. I pray that one day (about 13 years from now) handyman husband & I will celebrate our 50 years together and then still have many more healthy and happy years together after that.

THE NARROWS/CANNING TIME AGAIN

Handyman & I took the camper to the lake for a long weekend. The weather was just wonderful. Cool weather for July - 70's during the day, 50's at night. We had a campfire every night and you could actually sit close and not get too hot. Sunday afternoon the campground really cleared out and it was so quiet. We got home about 3:00 Monday and after unloading the camper we went to the garden (it's at Handyman's mothers house) to pick beans. When we got there his mom had already picked and broken 7 gallons of beans for us. We went out and picked what turned out to be 4 more gallons of beans. We came home and I got a canner on before I started stringing and breaking what we had picked. I did 2 canners of quarts Monday night and then on Tuesday after work I did 4 more canners - 1 of quarts and 3 of pints. In all, 51 jars of beans. Whew, I'm glad that's done. Tonight I took the rings off, washed the jars and stored them in my new pantry. I'm gonna have to be sure to take some to Kansas when we go.

FINALLY FINISHED

We still have some trim work to do in the breakfast room, but I think the pantry/laundry room (pan-dry) is completed. Last night handyman husband helped me carry things down from the attic and bring things in from the garage. Today he finished tiling the backsplash over the kitchen sink where the window had been and put in more lights (Candace Olsen style). He has done such a good job on everything and I'm so pleased with it. I think he's going to take a break before he starts on the powder room that's going where my old laundry room was. He deserves a break. Maybe he'll even play some golf. Thanks Randy for ALL you do for me!!! I love you!

WESLEY'S QUESTIONS

In our monthly church newletter there was an article about questions that John Wesley had member's of his Holy club ask themselves each day in their private devotions. There were some hard questions. See for yourself.
1. Am I consciously or unconsciously creating the impression that I am a better person than I really am? In other words, am I a hypocrite?
2. Am I honest in all my acts and words, or do I exaggerate?
3. Do I confidently pass on what was told to me confidence?
4. Can I be trusted?
5. Am I a slave to dress, friends, work or habit?
6. Am I self-conscious, self pitying or self-justifying?
7. Did the Bible live in me today?
8. Do I give God time to speak to me everyday?
9. Am I enjoying prayer?
10. When did I last speak to someone else about my faith?
11. Do I pray about money I spend?
12. Do I get to bed on time and get up on time?
13. Do I disobey God in anything?
14. Do I insist on doing something about which my conscience is uneasy?
15. Am I defeated in any part of my life?
16. Am I jealous, impure, irritable, touchy, or distrustful?
17. How do I spend my spare time?
18. Am I proud?
19. Do I thank God I am not as other people, especially as the Pharisees who despised the publican?
20. Is there anyone I fear, or dislike, or criticize or resent? If so, what am I doing about it?
21. Do I grumble and complain constantly?
22. Is Christ real to me?

HAPPY 4TH OF JULY

Have you ever wondered what happened to the 56 men who signed the Declaration of Independence? Five signers were captured by the British as traitors, and tortured before they died.Twelve had their homes ransacked and burned. Two lost their sons serving in the Revolutionary Army; another had two sons captured. Nine of the 56 fought and died from wounds or hardships of the Revolutionary War. They signed and they pledged their lives, their fortunes, and their sacred honor. What kind of men were they? Twenty-four were lawyers and jurists. Eleven were merchants, nine were farmers and large plantation owners; men of means, well educated, but they signed the Declaration of Independence knowing full well that the penalty would be death if they were captured. Carter Braxton of Virginia, a wealthy planter and trader, saw his ships swept from the seas by the British Navy. He sold his home and properties to pay his debts, and died in rags. Thomas McKeam was so hounded by the British that he was forced to move his family almost constantly. He served in the Congress without pay, and his family was kept in hiding. His possessions were taken from him, and poverty was his reward. Vandals or soldiers looted the properties of Dillery, Hall, Clymer, Walton, Gwinnett, Heyward, Ruttledge, and Middleton. At the battle of Yorktown, Thomas Nelson, Jr., noted that the British General Cornwallis had taken over the Nelson home for his headquarters. He quietly urged General George Washington to open fire. The home was destroyed, and Nelson died bankrupt. Francis Lewis had his home and properties destroyed. The enemy jailed his wife, and she died within a few months. John Hart was driven from his wife's bedside as she was dying. Their 13 children fled for their lives. His fields and his gristmill were laid to waste. For more than a year he lived in forests and caves, returning home to find his wife dead and his children vanished. So, take a few minutes while enjoying your 4th of July holiday and silently thank these patriots. It's not much to ask for the price they paid.Remember: freedom is never free!

FINAL INSPECTIONS COMPLETED

LAUNDRY AREA

PANTRY AREA

PANTRY AREA

LAUNDRY FOLDING/SORTING/HANGING AREA

VIEW FROM LAUNDRY ROOM/PANTRY

This week Handyman Husband has made quite a bit of progress toward finishing our new addition. He has had the final inspections from the electrical inspector, plumbing inspector and the building inspector. We got the go-ahead yesterday to start moving in. The washer/dryer are in place and I've even done a couple loads of laundry. The middle set of shelves are stationary and they're in place and usable. I'm still waiting on him to finish the moveable shelves that go on the outside. It's looking good!!